Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in India

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Misinformation has been circulating in India related to the COVID-19 disease, the pandemic and the responses of the government to the pandemic. The misinformation circulated in the context of COVID-19 in India include using unproven methods for disease cure, spreading communal hatred and glorifying or belittling the government's response to the pandemic. Actions are taken by the central and state governments to curb the spreading of fake news. The Central government appealed the citizens to not heed to rumours surrounding COVID-19.

Misinformation related to coronavirus disease 2019

Herbal remedies were proposed for preventing and curing coronavirus disease including by the government. The Prime Minister of India said that people should follow official guidelines to use a particular herbal combination called 'kadha' to increase immunity, although there is no evidence that immunity can be boosted this way. The Indian government's fact checking service debunked health claims like drinking warm water or gargling with saline or vinegar solutions do not prevent one from contracting coronavirus. Fake traditional remedy of drinking tea to protect against coronavirus first spread in China and it was later spread in India. Misinformation like, avoiding ice creams, washing clothes frequently, heavy vitamin C intake, not holding thirst, which were circulated in other countries were also circulated in Indian social media channels. Elected representatives have claimed that cow urine and cow dung could be a cure for coronavirus, while yet another distributed cloves which are 'energized by mantras' for preventing the disease.

Twelve persons from Andra Pradesh, including five children, ate seeds of the poisonous Datura plant after seeing a video on social media that it will build immunity against COVID-19.

Mob fought against the police to stop cremation of an Indian man who died in Kolkata, believing that the cremation will lead to spreading of the disease in the city.

Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Misinformation related to disease spread

An audio clip claiming that vegetable sellers were licking the vegetables to spread coronavirus, creating panic. A popular Hindi TV channel reported that there was an ICMR research to show that, if there hadn't been a national lockdown, there would have been 0.8 million people in India infected with coronavirus by mid April. The Indian health ministry later confirmed that there has not been such a study. A mock drill from China was circulated in India as people who died from coronavirus disease.

Misinformation targeting religious minorities

The decision of a Muslim group to conduct a religious meeting accelerated the spread of COVID-19 in India. As a result, fake news were circulated that the members of the group have spat on doctors, misbehaved and tried to spread the virus, triggering Islamophobia in the country. Headers like 'corona jihad' appeared in social media in relation to this incident. A Muslim man was beaten to death in Delhi following the rumours that he is spreading coronavirus, given that he had recently returned from a religious gathering. The man was taken to a Hindu temple and told to renounce Islam before they would allow him to go to hospital. A scientists' group responded that the available data does not support the speculation that the blame for coronavirus transmission lies mainly with Islamic religious groups.

Misinformation related to the effects of the pandemic

A fake document that reads almost like a genuine order spread across Jammu and Kashmir that the Supreme Court has advised the government to restore 4G internet in Kashmir within 24 hours. Another rumour that the government is cutting down 30% of pension due to the pandemic also circulated on Whatsapp. Fake news that India has outlawed social media posts about COVID-19 was circulated in social media.

Misinformation related to governmental response

A poster for spreading awareness against the misinformation that the lockdown is not for spraying miracle drug from helicopters.

Misinformation that the government is spreading "anti-corona" drug in the country during Janata curfew, a one-day lockdown, went viral on social media. Film actor Mohanlal and many others shared the fake news that, the vibration generated by clapping together during Janata curfew will kill the virus. One viral message says that the lifetime of coronavirus is only 12 hours and staying home for 14 hours during Janata curfew break the chain of transmission. Another message claimed that observing Janata curfew will result in the reduction of coronavirus cases by 40%. Tweet by Rajinikanth claiming that a 14-hour stay home can stop the coronavirus disease going from "stage 2" to "stage 3" was classified as misinformation and was taken down by Twitter for violating community guidelines. Amitabh Bachchan was heavily criticised for one of his tweets, which claimed vibrations from clapping, blowing conch shells as part of Sunday's Janata Curfew would have reduced or destroyed coronavirus potency as it was ‘amavasya’, the darkest day of the month.

The circulation of fake news that special train services are running in India led thousands of migrant workers to converge in railway stations. The ministry of railways clarified that there will not be any train service until 3 May 2020. The reporter who spread this false news was penalised by the police.

Actions against misinformation

By scientists

A group of 400 scientists across more than twenty research institutes of India started an initiative called 'Indian Scientists' Response to COVID-19' for debunking fake news related to the disease. The goal of the initiative is to analyse all available data and support the governments for evidence-based action.

By governments

The state governments have identified misleading posts on social media and take down notices were issued if they were found to circulate fake news. As of 16 April 2020, the Maharashtra state government has reported 218 cases of spreading misinformation, most of them from social media channels. Karnataka police launched a platform to check whether a news is fake or real. The public can submit fake news for verification. The central government ordered telecom companies to play a caller tune for mobile phone users explaining the coronavirus disease instead of regular caller tunes.

By social media

Facebook created a Corona Helpdesk Chatbot on its messenger platform in India to provide authentic information and debunk fake news related to coronavirus. Facebook removes ads or listings that sell products that imply to offer cure or prevention against COVID-19.

References

This article "Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in India" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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